Bioneers, Conservation and Pristine Wilderness

Is there a true dichotomy between 'natural' and 'urban environments'? I wonder, can an environmental leader that advocates conservation and restoration of pristine wilderness also be considered an urban environmental leader? If our population centers are increasingly urban centers, conservation advocates must become more incorporated into urban communities. Without the support of an urban population, conservation of pristine wilderness is impossible.

I have chosen to read "Walking With Spring" by Earl V. Shaffer to investigate this dichotomy. Was Earl ignorant to the impacts of cities? Or was he too a bioneer, wanting to affect positive change in urban environments as well as those of the wilds.

One thing is certain, Earl was a leader. His account of traversing the Appalachian Trail has inspired thousands of through hikers. 

onAsphalt

onAsphalt is a Harvard Grad School of Design project that explores the many uses of asphalt. The project portfolio content sheds light on the omnipresence of asphalt throughout our urban environments.

 

Denver Broncos Stadium (Denver, CO)

Tar Art

 

Pogotopy 1

Pogotopy 2

Alan Watts: A Conversation with Myself

In 1971, Alan Watts recorded "A Conversation with Myself". In the television program, Alan expresses some of the ideas that led to his recognition as a leading proponent of eastern wisdom. He delivers an accessible explanation for the popular misconception that there is a separated "world of man" and "world of nature". Alan is a bioneer in the sense that he believes in modifying our conceptualization of the natural environment by becoming more sophisticated in the way we approach ecological systems.

Be a better friend to yourself, and lend Alan an ear for a few minutes, and perhaps longer.

Bill Gates: The Bioneer and Servant-Leader

 

Bill Gates has been widely recognized for his investments in the health and welfare of  impoverished Africans. He addresses the future of energy in this TED talk. His visionary, generative mind approaches climate change with a fresh outlook. Bill meshes bioneering and servant-leadership.

Living Building Challenge 2.0

Living Building Challenge 2.0 is a cohesive standard – pulling together the most progressive thinking from the worlds of architecture, engineering, planning, landscape design and policy.

It challenges us to ask the question: What if every single act of design and construction made the world a better place?

What if every intervention resulted in greater biodiversity; increased soil health; additional outlets for beauty and personal expression; a deeper understanding of climate, culture and place; a realignment of our food and transportation systems; and a more profound sense of what it means to be a citizen of a planet where resources and opportunities are provided fairly and equitably?

Indeed, “Living Building Challenge” is not a merely a noun that defines the character of a particular solution for development, but more relevant if classified as a series of verbs – calls for action that describe not only the ‘building’ of all of humanity’s longest lasting artifacts, but also of the relationships and broader sense of community and connectivity they engender. It is a challenge to immerse ourselves in such a pursuit - and many refer to the ability to do so as a “paradigm shift”.

The Living Building Challenge is comprised of seven performance areas, or ‘Petals’: Site, Water, Energy, Health, Materials, Equity and Beauty. Petals are subdivided into a total of twenty Imperatives, each of which focuses on a specific sphere of influence. Download the complete document to learn more.

The Plant

In Baltimore, a collaborative effort between concerned citizens has yielded productive efforts towards developing a more healthy, sustainable city. According to the Baltimore Bioneers website, the group is "a brilliant assembly of global and local environmentalists, healers, and business and community leaders gathered once in Baltimore to discuss practical environmental, social, and economic solutions for our planet…and for our city."

"The Plant" is one of the concepts developed by the Baltimore Bioneers. The objective is to utilize the 'broken teeth' of row housing to accommodate facilities that will help build the community and reduce the dependence on centralized, fossil fuel derived energy sources. The Plant is intended to drive revitalization of housing communities in urban environments.

According to the Baltimore Bioneers:

It is time to return the city to a place of production, a place where each neighborhood has the essential resources to survive and to thrive. It’s time for Baltimore’s new power Plant.


Imagine a series of easy-to-assemble prefab structures designed to plug the broken teeth of a rowhouse block and to activate vacant land with productive programs. Imagine a structure that radiates surplus to its neighbors through shared infrastructure such as solar technology and WiFi.


Imagine also, a structure that collects energy: Just as the solar cells harness the diffuse energy of the sun, the new power Plant will collect the energy of those dedicated neighbors looking to radiate hope. It will galvanize efforts in a symbolic structure serving the particular needs of each neighborhood.

The "Plant" is an example of a practical, and financially feasible proposal that will improve the urban environment. The beauty of The Plant concept is that it has been developed by a grass roots coalition of architects, engineers, builders, and other community members joined to find solutions in a natural, non-corporate climate. These emerging 'green leaders' are free to think outside the box - each one bringing his or her unique perspective to the table. The collective minds, from a variety of backgrounds, are more likely to generate feasible solutions to large scale problems that require an interdisciplinary approach.

Read more about The Plant here.

Brynn's Kombucha!